Grain steaming apparatus

ABSTRACT

Grain steaming apparatus comprising a tower having three sections, an upper section, a central section, and a lower section. The grain to be steamed is introduced into the top of the upper section, and steam is communicated into the interior thereof via a pair of steam manifolds. The lower section of the tower comprises a baffle arrangement adapted to control the flow of wheat in the tower while preventing channeling of the grain, to achieve uniform grain flow across the cross section of the tower. The baffle arrangement may preferably be formed by a plurality of perpendicularly disposed plates forming a grid work of substantially square, tapering passages. In this manner, the resistance encountered by the grain from the lower constriction of the tower will be distributed substantially uniformly across the cross section of the tower.

United States Patent [191 Brandt et al.

[ v GRAIN STEAMING APPARATUS [75] Inventors: Maurice W. Brandt; FranklinJ.

Shears, both of Fremont, Mich.

[73] Assignee: Gerber Products Company, Fremont, Mich.

[22] Filed: April2l, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 136,016

]March 20, 1973 Primary ExaminerKenneth W. Sprague AssistantExaminer-James C. Yeung Attorney-Townsend and Townsend [5 7] ABSTRACTGrain steaming apparatus comprising a tower having three sections, anupper section, a central section, and a lower section. The grain to besteamed is introduced into the top of the upper section, and steam iscommunicated into the interior thereof via a pair of steam manifolds.The lower section of the tower comprises a baffle arrangement adapted tocontrol the flow of wheat in the tower while preventing channeling ofthe grain, to achieve uniform grain flow across the cross section of thetower. The baffle arrangement may preferably be formed by a plurality ofperpendicularly disposed plates forming a grid work of substantiallysquare, tapering passages. In this manner, the resistance encountered bythe grain from the lower constriction of the tower will be distributedsubstantially uniformly across the cross section of the tower.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures IPATENTEDMARZO 197s FIG -5 INVENTORS MAURICEW. BRANDT BY FRANKLIN J. SHEARS W MW ATTORNEYS FIG 2 GRAIN STEAMINGAPPARATUS This invention relates to apparatus for steaming grains,legumes and the like, as well as deactivating enzymes. In a preferredembodiment, the invention is directed to grain steaming apparatusadapted for the steaming of wheat.

In the production, storage and distribution of cereal, an oftenencountered problem is the caking of the cereal when exposed toconditions of high humidity. Such caking can be substantially eliminatedby minimizing the reducing sugar content, namely dextrins and maltose,of the cereal. The reducing sugars in cereals are, in part, produced bythe diastatic enzymes in the flour acting upon the starches alsocontained therein. In particular, applicants have found that wheat isparticularly high in diastatic enzymes.

According to the present invention, the reducing sugar content of cerealis minimized by deactivating the diastatic enzymes in the grain prior tomilling. Specifically, this is accomplished by steaming the grain. Inthe case of wheat, applicant has found that steaming the wheat berry forapproximately 2 minutes at 210 F effectively deactivates the diastaticenzymes. Thus, according to the present invention, there is provided agrain steaming tower, the grain being introduced into the top of thetower. Steam is communicated into the interior of the upper section ofthe tower via a pair of steam manifolds. The lower section of the towercomprises a baffle arrangement adapted to control the flow of wheat inthe tower to provide for a desired transit time of 2 minutes from theupper section of the tower, through the central section of the tower orholding zone, and out the bottom or exit of the tower. In addi tion, thebaffle arrangement functions to prevent channeling of the grain, toachieve uniform grain flow and thus uniform enzyme deactivation.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide amethod and apparatus for deactivating the diastatic enzymes in grains,such as wheat.

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatuscharacterized by simplicity of design and operation and sanitaryconstruction for ease of dismantling and cleaning to minimize bacterialbuildup.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a grain steamingtower having an upper section into which the grain is introduced andinto which steam is fed, a central or holding section, and a lowerbaffle section adapted to control the flow of grain through the towerwhile preventing channeling of the grain.

The grain steaming apparatus according to the present invention isadvantageous in that it effects the deactivation of the diastaticenzymes in grain simply, efficiently and in a minimum of time.Furthermore, the baffled lower section of the tower substantiallyminimizes channeling of the grain as encountered in prior art devices,thus improving the uniformity of the enzyme deactivation of the grainproduced by the steaming process. Thus, the apparatus and procedure ofthe present invention permits production of cereals of improved quality,and is further advantageous as it does not interfere with conventionalgrain milling or cereal producing techniques.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be more readily apparent from the following detaileddescription of the present invention with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of grain steaming apparatus according tothe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the lower portion of the apparatusdepicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, there is depicted grain steamingapparatus, shown generally at 10, according to the present invention.Grain steamer 10 comprises a tower supported by four legs 12. The towermay be regarded as being formed of three sections, a top or uppersection 14, a central section 16, and a lower section 18.

Top or upper section 14 comprises a hollow, vertically elongate columnof substantially square cross section. The upper section 14 is closedwith the exception of a single aperture communicating with an inlet tubeor pipe 20 into which the grain to be steamed is introduced. The lowerend of upper section 14 is open to permit the grain to pass therethroughand thus proceed through the remaining sections of the'tower.

Steam is introduced into the upper section 14 of the tower via an inletpipe 22 which communicates with a pair of steam manifolds 24 disposedwithin upper section 14. Manifolds 24 comprise tubing having a pluralityof holes 26 on the underside thereof formed ina manner to substantiallyuniformly distribute the steam passing therethrough over the crosssection of upper portion 14. As is apparent from FIG. 2, manifold 24 maypreferably take the shape of a square perimeter of tubing having asingle tube crossing intermediate the sides thereof. In this manner, themanifolds 24 will not substantially interfere with the downward flow ofgrain through the tower, but will nonetheless uniformly distribute thesteam over the across section of the tower. Since holes 26 are in theunderside of manifold 24, the steam issuing therefrom will be directeddownwardly to minimize the escape of steam from the top of the tower,and thus maximize the absorption of steam by the grain.

The bottom of upper section 14 is open and communicates with the centralsection or holding zone 16 of the tower. The central section or holdingzone 16 comprises a hollow, elongate column of rectangular crosssection, the cross section of central section 16 being greater than thecross section of upper section 14. In order to interconnect uppersection 14 and central section 16, a tapered section 28, taking the formof a hollow, truncated pyramid, is provided between upper section 14 andcentral section 16. The bottom of central section 16 is, of course,open, to permit the grain to pass therethrough into lower section 18 ofthe tower.

Lower section 18 of the tower comprises a hollow, inverted, truncatedpyramid of rectangular cross section. The bottom of lower section 18 isconnected to a rectangular outlet pipe 30, through which the grain exitsthe tower.

Contained within lower section 18 are a plurality of plates suitablydisposed to form a baffle arrangement for preventing the channeling ofthe grain. Specifically, five trapezoidal plates 32 and 34 are providedextending perpendicularly from side to side of lower section l8. Plates32 and 34 are inclined in a manner to conform to the pyramid shape oflower section 18. Ofthese plates, three plates 32, namely those platesadjacent the sides and in the center of lower section 18, extenddownwardly to a first or lesser depth. The remaining two plates 34extend downwardly to a second or greater depth. Similarly, fivetrapezoidal plates 36 and 38 extend perpendicularly from the other sidesof lower section 18. Specifically, three plates 36, namely the platesadjacent the sides and center of lower section 18 extend to the first orlesser depth while the remaining two plates 38 extend to the second orgreater depth.

As apparent from FIGS. 4 and 5, this creates a tapering rectangular gridwork or baffie within lower section 18. Specifically, extending withinlower section 18 to the first or lesser depth is a matrix of plateswhich form 36 substantially square, tapering passages. Similarly, theplates 34 and 38 which extend downwardly to the second or greater depthcreate a matrix of plates forming nine square, tapering passages. Thebaffling thus formed acts to divide the flow of grain in the tower, sothat the resistance encountered by the grain from the lower constrictionof the tower will be substantially uniform across the cross section ofthe tower. Accordingly, the channeling of the grain within the towerwill be minimized, assuring a substantially uniform flow of grain acrossthe cross section of the tower.

As briefly referred to hereinbefore, rectangular pipe 30 comprises thegrain exit from the tower. Disposed within pipe 30 is a valve plate 40,adapted to obstruct the passage of grain through pipe 30 so as to enablecontrol of the flow therethrough. Specifically, valve plate 40 isslideably engaged in pipe 30, so that plate 40 can be extended into pipe30 to any desired depth. Plate 40 is secured in place by a wing nut 42which mounts plate 40. In this manner, the flow of grain through thetower may be regulated to achieve the desired steaming of the grain.

Pipe 30 may include an opening communicating with a filtered pipe 44.Pipe 44 may be connected to a vacuum pump 46 to permit removal of dustor other foreign matter present in the grain. Of course, the filterwithin pipe 44 will prevent grain from being exhausted therethrough.

The grain issuing from the end of pipe 30 may be conveyed away byconventional means. For example, the end of pipe 30 may communicate witha conventional pneumatic conveying system for transporting the steamedgrain to the next desired location, typically a milling machine.

In operation, the grain to be steamed is introduced into the top of thetower via inlet pipe 20. Steam is provided at inlet pipe 22 and iscommunicated to the grain via steam manifolds 24. Due to the action ofgravity, the grain will pass downwardly through the tower. The bafflearrangement contained within lower portion 18 of the tower willsubstantially prevent channeling of the grain as referred tohereinbefore.

By suitable adjustment of valve 40 in exit pipe 30, the

desired flow rate of grain may be achieved. Applicant has found that thediastatic enzymes in wheat will be substantially deactivated if thewheat is steamed at 210 F. for approximately two minutes. Accordingly,valve 40 may preferably be adjusted to achieve a flow rate correspondingto a transit time of two minutes from the topvofthe tower to the exit.

hile a particular embodiment of the present invention has been shown anddescribed in detail, it is apparent that adaptations and modificationsmay be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of theinvention, as set forth in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Grain steaming apparatus comprising a vertical tower having an uppersection with an opening at the top thereof for receiving said grain,means for introducing steam into said upper section, a central sectiondisposed below said upper section and communicating therewith, a lowersection disposed below said central section and communicating therewith,said lower section defining a hollow inverted truncated pyramid ofsubstantially square cross-section, said lower section further having anoutlet at the bottom thereof, baffle means interior said lower sectionfor preventing the channeling of said grain, said baffle meanscomprising a plurality of mutually perpendicular plates disposed withinsaid lower section, each of said plates being trapezoidal and inclinedin conformity with the pyramid shape of said lower section to form aplurality of substantially square tapered passages.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least two parallel of saidplates extend downwardly to a greater depth than the others of saidPlates to form tapered passages below said first plurality of passages.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said upper section and saidcentral section comprise hollow elongate columns of substantially squarecross section.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the cross section of saidcentral section is greater than the cross section of said upper section.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for introducingsteam into said upper section comprises at least one steam manifolddisposed within said upper section and means for conducting steam tosaid manifold.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said manifold includes aplurality of apertures on the underside thereof for introducing saidsteam downwardly into said upper section.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising valve meanscommunicating with said outlet for controlling the fiow of graintherethrough.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising conveyor means forconveying away the grain from said outlet.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising a filtered pipecommunicating with said outlet and vacuum means connected to saidfiltered pipe for exhausting dust and foreign matter from said grain.

1. Grain steaming apparatus comprising a vertical tower having an uppersection with an opening at the top thereof for receiving said grain,means for introducing steam into said upper section, a central sectiondisposed below said upper section and communicating therewith, a lowersection disposed below said central section and communicating therewith,said lower section defining a hollow inverted truncated pyramid ofsubstantially square cross-section, said lower section further having anoutlet at the bottom thereof, baffle means interior said lower sectionfor preventing the channeling of said grain, said baffle meanscomprising a plurality of mutually perpendicular plates disposed withinsaid lower section, each of said plates being trapezoidal and inclinedin conformity with the pyramid shape of said lower section to form aplurality of substantially square tapered passages.
 2. Apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein at least two parallel of said plates extenddownwardly to a greater depth than the others of said plates to formtapered passages below said first plurality of passages.
 3. Apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein said upper section and said central sectioncomprise hollow elongate columns of substantially square cross section.4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the cross section of saidcentral section is greater than the cross section of said upper section.5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for introducingsteam into said upper section comprises at least one steam manifolddisposed within said upper section and means for conducting steam tosaid manifold.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said manifoldincludes a plurality of apertures on the underside thereof forintroducing said steam downwardly into said upper section.
 7. Apparatusaccording to claim 1 further comprising valve means communicating withsaid outlet for controlling the flow of grain therethrough.
 8. Apparatusaccording to claim 7 further comprising conveyor means for conveyingaway the grain from said outlet.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 7further comprising a filtered pipe communicating with said outlet andvacuum means connected to said filtered pipe for exhausting dust andforeign matter from said grain.